Adjustable drapery crane



p 25, 1951 J. v. GRABER 2,569,376

ADJUSTABLE DRAPERY CRANE Filed Feb. 20, 1950 INVENTOR JOSEPH V. GRABER ATTORNEYS Patented Sept. 25, 1951 ADJUSTABLE DRAPERY CRANE Joseph v. Graber, Middleton, Wis., assignor to The Graber Company, a partnership, Middleton, Wis.

Application February 20, 1950, Serial No. 145,303

' 2 Claims.

, 2,321,196 of June 8, 1943.

One of the primary objects of the present invention is to provide novel means for associating the drapery rod with the swinging crane arm, whereby the rod can be conveniently and quickly adjusted transversely of a window or door opening for different sized openings and for obtaining desired wide or narrow opening effects Another salient object of the invention is the provision of an extensible tubular rod with means for adjustably associating the rod with the swinging crane arm by a friction grip, whereby the rod can be moved relative to the crane arm by merely manually releasing the grip, and whereby the use of clamping plates, screws, bolts and the like is entirely eliminated.

A further important object of the invention is the provision of means, whereby the friction grip is entirely hidden within the tubular rod so that a clean streamlined effect will be had and whereby the drapery itself can be conveniently associated with the rod.

A still further important object of the invention is to provide means whereby the friction grip will produce a wide support for the rod so that the tilting thereof on the crane will be eliminated.

With these and other objects in view, the invention consists in the novel construction, arrangement and formation of parts, as will be hereinafter more specifically described and claimed, and illustrated in the accompanying drawing, in which drawing,

Figure 1 is a top plan view of the improved drapery crane, with parts thereof broken away and in section to illustrate structural detail.

Figure 2 is a vertical sectional View through the drapery crane taken on the line 22 of Figure 1, looking in the direction of the arrows.

Figure 3 is a transverse detail sectional view, taken on the line 3-3 of Figure 1, illustrating the connection. between the swinging crane arm and the attaching bracket.

Figure 4 is a fragmentary longitudinal sectional view taken on the line 4-4 of Figure 2, looking in the direction of the arrows.

Figure 5 is a transverse sectional view taken on the line 5-5 of Figure 1, looking in the direction of the arrows.

Figure 6 is a detail fragmentary horizontal sectional view illustrating the friction lock and showing the same in its released position to permit free sliding of the drapery rod.

' ing movement is the crane arm ll.

Referring to the drawing in detail, wherein similar reference characters designate corresponding parts throughout the several views, the letter C generally indicates the improved drapery crane, and the same includes a supporting bracket l0, embodying an attaching face plate II, and a right angularly outwardly extending leg l2. The bracket is braced and reinforced by pressing out a rib l3 therein. The attaching plate II, is provide with an opening l4 and slot [5, for the reception of fastening elements l6, whereby the bracket can be conveniently fastened to a window or door casing and the like. The slot [5 permits angular adjustment of the bracket I0 within certain limitations on a wall or casing. Pivotally secured to the leg l2 of the bracket ID, for swing- The crane arm I! preferably includes like upper and lower companion links l8, and the leg I2 of bracket Ill is received between the links [8 at one end and the links are fastened to the leg by means of a rivet [9. The links I8 can be conveniently stamped from sheet metal and are provided with a marginal bead 20 for rigidity. The outer end of the crane arm I! pivotally carries and supports a bracket 2| for a drapery rod 22. The rod bracket 2| also includes a vertically disposed leg 25 to which is securely fastened such as by welding or the like, a supporting plate 26, the purpose of which will later appear. It is to be noted, however, that the vertical leg 25 extends about the top and bottom edge of the plate 26, and hence the lower edge of the leg 25 isprovided with an inturned flange 21. A part of the flange can be struck up to form a lug 28 which engages the rear face of the plate 26. The opposite ends of the plate have formed thereon resilient gripping legs 29 and the extreme outer ends of the legs are, out-turned as at 30. At the points of juncture of the spring or resilient legs 29 with the plate 26, the same have their upper and lower edges notched as at 3|, for a purpose which will also later appear. The spring or resilient legs 29 are received within the drapery rod 22, for a purpose which will now be described.

The rod 22 is of a general tubular shape and preferably, but not necessarily, includes telescoping sections 32 and 33. While, I have stated that the rod is of a general tubular shape, it is to be understood, and as is clearly shown in the drawing, the same is of a C shape in cross section, and hence the inner face thereof is provided with a longitudinally extending slot 34. The resilient legs 29, which in conjunction with the bracket, form a friction grip or locking means for the rod,

3 are of a considerably greater width than the width of the slot 34, and hence these legs can be introduced into the interior of the rod from one end thereof and the notches 3| formed in the legs 29 receive the longitudinal edges" of the rod or walls of the slot 34.

In use the ends 30 of the resilient legs bear against the inner face of the outer wall of the rod and urge the plate 26 outward and the walls of the notches 3| into binding contact with the walls of the slot 34. Thus the rod is-held in an adjusted position on the bracket 2! against accidental shifting movement and by pressing in on the rod toward the bracket, the resilient legs will be flexed and the corners of the walls of the notches 3! will be moved away from the walls of the slot 3 and the rod can then be easily slid on the bracket 2|. Upon the release of the rod, the resilient legs 29 will again assume their normal position and hold the rod locked on bracket 2! against accidental movement.

My improved drapery crane functions substantially in the same manner, and has the same advantages as the Graber patent heretofore mentioned, with the added advantage that a neat, streamlined effect is obtained and that the rod can be quickly and easily adjusted on the crane without the use of tools, and by merely flexing the resilient legs 29. As the legs lie Wholly within the rod the same are hidden from view and a nice appearing rod is had. As the legs project a material distance beyond the bracket 2!, these legs form an adequate and firm support for the rod and the rod will not tilt on its bracket 2|.

Changes in details may be made, without departing from the spirit or the scope of this invention, but what is claimed as new is:

l. A drapery crane comprising a supporting fixture adapted to be secured to a window and door opening, a swinging crane arm pivotally secured to the fixture, a supporting bracket cmried by the outer end of the swinging crane arm, a hollow drapery rod having walls and a longitudinally extending slot on its inner face, and a friction locking means carried by the bracket including oppositely extending resilient legs rereceived within the hollow rod, said legs having their upper and lower edges at their inner ends reduced in width to receive the walls of the rod, said legs being depressable to release engagement of the legs with said walls of the rod to permit free sliding movement of the rod on the legs and bracket.

2. A drapery crane comprising a supporting fixture adapted to be secured adjacent to a window or door opening, a swinging crane arm pivotally secured to the fixture, a hollow drapery rod having walls and. a longitudinally extending slot on its inner face, a bracket pivotally secured to the outer end of the crane arm and including a depending arm portion, a friction locking means including an intermediate U-shaped central body firmly attached to the arm portion of the bracket and resilient outwardly extending legs having their, terminals provided with curved feet, said legs being received within the rod and having a width greater than the width of the slot, said legs adjacent to their inner ends being provided with notches at their upper and lower edges receiving the walls of the rod.

JOSEPH V. GRABER.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 419,635 Butts Jan. 21, 1890 648,760 Kolb May 1, 1900 2,185,385 Rose Jan. 2, 1940 2,185,648 Reedy et al Jan. 2, 1940 2,419,140 Jacque Apr. 15, 1947 2,446,667 Toelle et al Aug. 10, 1948 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 460,195 Great Britain Jan. 20 1937 

